Article - The Mayorality - Boston Daily Globe - 28 November 1876

A Close Fight Between Ex-Alderman Gibson and the
Successful Candidate.

Joseph Smith Nominated for Street Commissioner.

WHOM WILL THE REPUBLICAN CHOOSE?

A Strong Movement in Favor of the Hon. Halsey J.
Boardman.

The dissension in the Democratic part on the subject of
the Mayorality has thoroughly roused public interest in the coming
municipal election. A tour of investigation, yesterday, by a Globe
reporter, showed that the citizens of both parties are beginning to talk
over the probabilities of the coming fight. The republicans are ??? to the
fact, that the Democracy is preparing to nominate a party ticket, and that
the opposition must be united if it would enter the fight with any chance
of success. It was thought that - by a judicious nomination for Mayor the
disaffection in the Democratic ranks might be made to serve the interests
of the Republicans. Within a few days the name of the Hon. Halsey J.
Boardman seems to have come to take the lead in the list of Republicans
mentioned in connections with the Mayorality nomination. That gentleman,
although he has not authorized any person to present his name as the
candidate at this time, has a host of friends who declare that he is in
every way the best and most available candidate to be named. One fo the
best know Republicans of the South End and gentleman who supported Mayor
Cobb last year said: "I hope Mr. Boardman will be nominated by the
Republicans. While last year, a good many of us thought it best to vote
for Mr. Cobb's re-election, none of us based our nation on an enmity to
Mr. Boardman. He came out of the contest as he went in - without a stain
upon his character and with the respect of the entire community.
Considering how he was weighed down with the coalition ticket for Aldermen
and School Committee, Mr. Boardman made a remarkably good run. In view of
the fact that he was the candidate last year, he would command this year
the support of the men who voted for him in December last; and no Cobb
man, I think, would object to his candidature now." The reporter
asked whether Mr. Boardman would be likely to accept a nomination.
"If it was tempered to him by the united Republican party, I think he
would accept, although he has announced himself not a candidate. It
seems to me that Mr. Boardman should be so nominated. A good many
Democrats would vote for him who would not think of voting for any other
Republican; and the Republicans can unite, it seems to me, on no other man
so well. Mr. Boardman's friends feel more over te bolt in favor of Cobb
last year; and while I do not regret my course in the last election, still
I think every Republican sees the need of harmony now. If the Democracy
one gain full control of the City Hall, there will be the greatest
exhibition of partisanship and 'grabbing' ever known here. They must be
beaten; and it seems to me and to a good many others, that Mr. Boardman
should be the Republican candidate." The reporter then called upon a
Democratic lawyer, a warm supporter of Mr. Boardman last year. "Well,
sir, said he in response to the first question,

"The Democrats Are Going to Win.

this year. All these rows in the preliminary meetings
don't signify. For myself, I think it was unfair. for the majority to act
as they did in the Ward and City Committee Monday night. It's never worth
while to stir up bad feelings for a more trifle like the question whether
an informal ballot should be taken or not. But all this unpleasantness
will blow over. That talk of a bolt is mere braggadocio. The Democrats
will rally to the support of the regular ticket, whether Mr. Prince leads
it or any other man; and if there is a bolt, it will quietly subside. The
Republicans are bound to be beaten. They can't recover from their absurd
division on the Mayorality question a year ago let along their defeat in
November." The reporter asked what he thought of the Boardman
coalition last year. "It was an honest movement sir," he said.
"Mr. Boardman was well supported by the Democrats, and had his
Republican friends done their duty, would have been elected easily. I
think he would be the best man to nominate if a coalition ticket was to be
formed. But that won't be the case. We are bound to have a

Democratic City Administration"

The reporter asked whether, in case Mr. Boardman was
renominated by the Republicans, he would be likely to draw many Democratic
votes? "He would draw some votes, undoubtedly, because he was the
Democratic candidate last year, and therefore he is the strongest man the
Republicans could present; but the defection would not exceed 1000 votes,
I think, and the Democracy are sure to elect their men no matter who the
Democrats nominate." The reporter's further peregrinations disclosed
the fact that considerable opposition has been developed against Mr.
Nathaniel J. Bradlee among Republicans. Several gentlemen asserted that he
was a Democrat to all intents and purposes, and that only the
"silver-top" influence could have made him a possible candidate.
Mr. Boardman's friends claim that, under present circumstances, Mr.
Boardman is entitled to a nomination and hearty support. If any other man
is nominated some of them hint that the result will be disastrous to the
party, which is leady on the verge of disintegration on account of the
bolting mania which has begun to rule. The fields of Alderman Clark and
Stebbing and the other candidates named for the Mayorality by the
Republicans seem to be confident of success in the ward caucuses tonight.
The latest phase of Democratic plan is shown in the report which follows:

The Democratic City Committee.

Everything Made Lovely- the Hon. Frederic Prince Nominated
for Mayor, by a Small Majority, Over Nehemiah Gibson - Joseph Smith for
Street Commissioner - An Interesting Resolution and a Harmonious
Gathering.

Contrary to the general expectation last night's meeting
of the Democratic City Central Committee was a very harmonious gathering.
The dissension developed on Friday night had been smoothed over in a way
which was possible to none but a Democratic committee. There was a close
contest between the friends of Mr. Prince and ex-Alderman Gibson, who was
taken up as the opposition candidate; but on Mr. Prince's success MR.
Donnelly and his friends gracefully acquiesced in the result. Mr. Prince's
nomination was made unanimous. Joseph Smith was renominated by acclamation
for Street Commissioner. A committee of fifty was appointed to present a
list of candidates for Alderman and School Committee, and a resolution was
passed favoring an indignation meeting of honest citizens opposed to the
defeat by fraud of Tilden and Hendricks. The meeting was called to order
at 8:15 o'clock, the Hon. Charles Levi Woodbury occupying the chair; 160
members responded to their names at roll-call, which was followed by the
reading of the minutes of the last meeting. A communication from John
Osborn Jr., in relation to , the charges of treachery to the party,
was then read. He denied that he had procured his name to be placed on any
Republican ticket, or that he had favored an "independent"
ticket in the interest of Mr. Frost or any other Republican, and asked for
the ??? investigation of the charges against him. The communication was
duly offered. Mr. Michael Norton of the Twenty-fifth Ward, and Dr. George
Faulkner of the Twenty-Third Ward, sent in resignations which were
accepted and the Committee on Organization instructed to fill the
vacancies. The Treasurer Mr. Michael Doherty, requested that all but seven
of the members had paid their assessments. Dr. C. L. Randall of the
Twenty-fifth Ward presented

The Following Resolution

which was received with hearty applause and adopted
unanimously:

Whereas in the opinion of the members of the Democratic
Central Committee of Boston, in meeting this assembled, information is
received that extensive frauds are being perpetrated, and an attempt made
in certain States of our Union to deprive our candidates, Tilden and
Hendricks, of their election; and, whereas, a condition of affairs is said
and believed to exist in the States of South Carolina and Louisiana, such
as to cause a feeling of apprehension and alarm among all honest citizens
throughout the land, and such as to demand some section at our hands, be
it hereby

Resolved, that this committee herewith appoint a
sub-committee
of three members, of whom one shall be the Chairman of this body, to
confer with the officers of the State Central Committee as to the
propriety of holding a public meeting in the city of Boston at an early
day, and then and there invite to participate in the name all law abiding
citizens, and to take such action in the premises as may be deemed proper
for the exigency and the occasion.

Caucuses Begins Harmoniously

The Chairman appointed on the committee Dr. S. L. Randall
and Dennis Cawley, Jr. The Hon. Patrick A. Collins then rose to a question
of privilege, and made a brief address, disclaiming any feeling of
hostility to the Democracy of the North End, as had been insinuated at the
previous meeting. He thought that the impression that there is a row among
the Democrats of Boston is not well founded, and said that the trouble at
the previous meeting was merely trivial Mr. Collins read an editorial in
yesterday afternoon's Herald in regard to a "Democratic bolt,: and
thought its statements not based upon fact. His remarks were pithy and a
little sarcastic upon the gentlemen who withdrew from the City Committee
on Friday night; and he ridiculed as impossible any Sunday night
Democratic bolt, in this year at least. If the party nominates decent men
for office, no Democrat will fail to stand by the colors and help to carry
the candidate to victory. Mr. Collin's speech was followed with a motion
by Mr. W. B. May of the Twentieth Ward, that the Convention proceed to the
nomination of a Mayor, Mr. Charles F. Donnelly, said that he still thought
the proper course for the Convention was not proceed to the nomination of
a Mayor at so early a stage in the canvass. The first thing to be done in
his judgment is to nominate a clean Board of Alderman; and he moved, as an
amendment, that a committee of two be appointed from each Ward, to
nominate and present to the Convention twenty-four candidates for
Alderman, twelve for members of the School Board, and two for Street
Commissioners. The amendment was lost, ?? to 1?4, the yeas and nays being
called by unanimous consent; and it was then voted to